It's still too early to tell

Historians debate whether George W. Bush is the worst president ever, or just top three on the inglorious list.

In related news, Timothy Noah wonders why the press has experienced amnesia regarding the incident, even as other governors face or recently have been faced with similar circumstances. Noah takes us back to the days before the Miserable Failure swaggered into the District of Columbia, exhibiting greatness as he considered the plight of a woman condemned to death. A moment even Tucker Carlson choked on, briefly.

In the week before [Karla Faye Tucker's] execution, Bush says, Bianca Jagger and a number of other protesters came to Austin to demand clemency for Tucker. "Did you meet with any of them?" I ask.

Bush whips around and stares at me. "No, I didn't meet with any of them," he snaps, as though I've just asked the dumbest, most offensive question ever posed. "I didn't meet with Larry King either when he came down for it. I watched his interview with [Tucker], though. He asked her real difficult questions, like 'What would you say to Governor Bush?' "

"What was her answer?" I wonder.

"Please," Bush whimpers, his lips pursed in mock desperation, "don't kill me."

It's no wonder Al Gore beat the punk in the next presidential election. Oh.